419 scam: "James Lucas"<drjameslucas08@gmail.com> Wonderful Job Offer

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "money orders " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a company representative scam. This type of job offer scam involves the cashing of fake checks and money orders. It could expose you to losses of tens of thousands of dollars as well as to the risk of criminal prosecution and (in some cases) imprisonment.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- drjameslucas09@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "James Lucas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drjameslucas09@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:10:20 -0000
Subject: Wonderful Job Offer

NB: PLEASE ALL SERIOUS INTERESTED PEOPLE SHOULD PLEASE SEND THEY EMAIL TO MY
PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS: drjameslucas09@gmail.com

Good tidings to you as you read. My name is Dr . James Lucas. I am a
freelance researcher and Chief Consultant of JL HOLDINGS INC
I was born in Baltimore, Maryland in the year 1967, I
presently live in the United kingdom, with my three kids and the love of
my life. I would be very interested in offering you a part-time paying job
in which you could earn a lot. I just came about your email address and
your brief profile through an email listing affiliated with the US Chamber
of Commerce.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR US?
Presently, I have just been granted a funding to head a research project
in the tropical regions of West Africa regarding rare and vulnerable plant
species and this would be commencing very soon, However my funding were by
my American counterparts which sent me the bunch of payments mostly in US
based money orders. Getting an accountant in the states or opening an
account would have been my best choice but I have a deadline to meet and
taking any of those choices would cost me time and a whole lot of other
requirements I am not ready to deal with, as I would be traveling a lot in
the meantime. So presently, assuming you would be able to deal with cash,
I would be willing to employ you on contract basis to be my payment
representative back in the states, this way I could issue and make these
money orders out to you, you could then cash them easily, withdraw 10% of
the total amount on these money orders as your commission and then send
the rest back to me through Western Union wire transfer. You will be
furnished with enough information to send the balance less Western union
charges and your 10% to us when we confirm a payment being sent to you.

Please if you are honest and dedicated and willing to work for us I will
be needing the following information to get to my US based clients so that
you can start receiving our payments as our US based representative.
Please note when replying fill the format below:
To get started, I will need the following (8) details.

Please note when replying fill the format below:
Name:
Address:
city:
State:
Zipcode:
Phone Number:
Age:
Sex:

Please reply this email with the information i asked for only if you
are really dedicated and trustworthy. The link to our website will
be up soon as it is being re-designed right now. Expecting to read
from you soon.

Thanks for your anticipated action. And I hope to hear back from you.
Dr . James Lucas.
JL Holdings Inc.
106 Jermyn Street | London | SW1Y 6EQ | UK | Phones | 00944-7024097985 |

NB: PLEASE ALL SERIOUS INTERESTED PEOPLE SHOULD PLEASE SEND THEY EMAIL TO MY
PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS: drjameslucas09@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam